Knitting machine



Nov. 2l, 1939. H. E. HousEMAN 2,180,708

KNITTING MACHINE Filed Aug.V 30, 1938.- A 4 Sheets-Sheet l Nov.21,1939.-H.E.HOUSEMAN y 2,180,708

KNITTING MACHINE Nov. 21,I 1939. E. HoUsr-:MANr v 2,180,708

KNITTING MACHINE Filed Aug. so, 1958 4 sheets-sheet 4 Patented Nov. 21,1939 UNITED STATES KNITTING MACHINE Harold E. Houseman, Laconia, N. ll.,aslignor to Scott Williams, Inc., Laconia, N. H., a oorporation oflllassacliusetts Application August 30,

23 Claims.

This invention relates to a knitting machine, and particularly tostriping devices for such m'achine.

In the production of striping in knitted fabric by thechanging of yarns,it is common to have the striping changes take place in a cyclicalfashion. On the other hand, certain yarn changes do not take placecyclically, for example, the yarn changes for the formation of the heeland toe and other structural portions-of a stocking. It is one object ofthe present invention` to provide a knitting machine in which a selectormeans, one of which is designed to control the of a stocking, and theother of which is designed to control cyclical striping changes with aresultant simplicity of the set-up of the pattern means and thepossibility of using the primary pattern means for the formation ofstockings containing different arrangements of stripes. The invention isalso applicable to an arrangement. in which two pattern means maycontrol striping to provide a striping 'arrangement which is, in part,cyclical and in part non-cyclical.

Another object of the present invention is to provide means for insuringthat the overlap of striping yarns occurs in the proper portion of astocking during both rotary and reclprocatory V knitting. Usually, inthe transition from rotary lto reciprocatory knitting a timing changeoccurs so that without special precautions the introductions of yarnswould occur on different groups of needles during the two kinds of knit-35 ting. Specifically, in accordance with the present invention thecontrolling means for the yarn changes has its timing shifted withrespect to the driving means to secure overlap in the desired fashion.40 Further objects of the invention particularly relate to details ofconstruction whereby the gen'- `eral objects are satisfactorilyattained, and these will be better understood from a consideration ofthe following description, read in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

'Figure' 1 is a diagrammatic vertical section showing certain of theelements concerned with the yarn changing in a conventional type ofknitv ting machine; QFlgure`2 is a fragmentary'elevation showingthe-'major portions of the yarn change controllsjjineens; guref3 is avertical section looking at the same-fromthe side'opposite thatillustrated in Fisure2:

Iligiir'e 4, is a front elevation of the same partly in section'andvshowing various details; Figures'f and 6 are vertical sections showingthe arrangement for shifting the timing of a crank` pin to control theformations of proper major series of yarn changes in the formationv193s', semi No. 227,452 (ci. ess-13s) overlaps during both rotary andreciprocatory knitting; and

Figure 7 is a sectional plan view of the driving mechanism for theneedle cylinders and for the yarn changing controlling meansillustratlng particularly the necessity for-the change in timing of theyarn change control means in passing 'from rotary to reciprocatoryknitting.

The machine to which the invention is shown as applied is of the typeillustrated in Bentley et al. Patent 1,838,651, to which patentreference may be made for details of construction which are notillustrated herein. Referring first to Figure 1, in which there areshown various elements of the type of the machine shown in the patent,and from which the relationship of the novel parts involved in thepresent invention to the conventional parts of the machine may beunderstood, the upper and lower cylinders of the machine are indicatedat 2 and 4, which cylinders are provided in the usual fashiony withdouble ended needles which may be transferred from one cylinder to theother for the production of ribbed and plain fabric in y the formationof a stocking.. Various yarns are fe`d to these needles by a series ofyarn fingers, of which only Aone is illustrated at 6. These yarn dngershave imparted to them their individual motions by the conventionalmeans, in,

cluding individual levers 8 pivoted at I0 and provided with followerportions I2 adjustable as -indicated at I4. The followers I2 are actedupon by cams I6 driven by individual ratchets I8 having alternate highand low teeth and adapted to be advanced by means of pulling pawls 20,which are provided with extensions 22 designed to selectively engagestepped portions 'of a slide 24 arranged to be selectively 'positionedlaterally of the machine. 'I'he various pawls 2l) are pivoted to a frame26, which is continuously oscillated during the operation of the machinethrough the medium of a link 28 connected to an adjustable crankdescribed in detail hereafter. A strong spring It serves to urge thepawlcarrying frame 26 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure '1.

The various parts so far described are quite conventional andillustrated fully in said Bentley et al. patent. From the mechanicalstandpoint, as applied to this machine, the present invention isconcerned with two matters, first the selective positioning of the slide24 laterally of the machine to provide selective actuation of theratchets I8 and accordingly of the yarn fingers, andl secondly theangular shift of the crank driving the link 28 to insure the changing ofyarn at proper times. The rst phase of the inventin will be firstconsidered with particularly reference to Figures 2, 3 and 4.

The slide 24, which is conventionally mounted in the machine for endwisemovements. has such endwise movements imparted to it by means of a lever32 pivoted on a vertical pivot and provided with a rearwardly extendingarm indicated 5 at 33, to which there is connected a link 35 actuated bymeans of a lever 31, which rides lugs of various heights upon the mainpattern chain '39 mounted upon a sprocket journalled on the main controlshaft 4| of the machine. The main pattern chain has. as usual, a numberof links equal to half the number of courses of the stocking and istherefore advanced a half link for each rotation of ther cylinders. Thelever 32 is adapted to engage an adjustable screw 34 carried by theslide 24, which is urged in a direction away from the observer as viewedinl Figure 2 by a, spring 36. The various elements just mentioned aresimilar to those illustrated in the Bentley et al. patent.

go In accordance with the present invention, an additional control isprovided for the lever 32. The lever is provided with a downwardlyextending pin 38 adapted to be engaged by a cam 40 carried by the upperend of a lever 42 pivoted on a stud 44 carried by the frame of themachine. The lever 42 has a forwardly extending arm 46 which is urgeddownwardly by a spring 48 to bring an adjustable stop screw 50 intocontact with an eccentric portion 52 carried by a screw 54 andfunctioning as an adjustable stop.

A lever 56 is mounted on the stud 44 alongside the lever 42 and ispulled downwardly by means of a spring 58. The lever 56 is provided withan upper extension 60 in which-is threaded a screw 62 adapted to engagea block 64 carried by the upper end of a lever 66 pivoted at 68 to thelever 42 and urged in a counterclockwise direction. by a spring 10 to aposition limited by the engagement of a stop pin 1| carried by the lever66 with the side of the lever 42. The lever 66 is provided with alateral extension 12 arranged to` be engaged as,\for example, under theconditions illustrated in Figure 4 by the head of a screw 14 carried bya lever ||8 hereafter described.

The lever 56 is provided with a Icam following extension 16 which isdesigned to ride on lugs 18 of various heights provided on a patternchain 80 carried by a sprocket 82, which is journalled upon a stud 83carried by the frame. 'I'he 5o sprocket 82 is provided with a hubportion 84 to which is secured a ratchet 86. In order to pre-l ventoverrun of the chain, a brake 88 engages the hub 84, the lbrake being inthe form of a member faced with friction material such as leather andpivoted to a lever 80 mounted on a stud 32 fixed to the frame andadapted to be adjusted by means of a screw84 abutting a stud on theframe in such fashion as to secure the properfrictional drag upon thehub. The springs 30 48 and 58 heretofore described may be convenientlyanchored toI the lever 80.

The advanceof the ratchet 86 is'eftected byv means of a pawl 86 springurged into engagement with the ratchet and pivotally mounted 35 upon alever 98 journalled upon the stud 83 and urged in a counter-clockwisedirection by a spring |00 as viewed in Figure 3 to bring a followingroller |02 carried by it into contact with an actuating cam |04, carriedby the shaft |06,

which also carriesa gear |08 by means of 4which it is driven from thecylinder driving mechanism of the machine so as to make one rotation toeach rotation of the needle cylinders.

A pawl guard ||0 is pivoted upon the stud 83 and carries a pawl ||2spring urged into engagement with the teeth of the ratchet 86. Thepurpose of this pawl is to secure advance of the ratchet yafter timingup of the pattern chain. The pawl guard l0 is adapted to be oscillatedthrough the medium of a link |14, which-is piv- 5 oted to a lateralextension ||6 of a main control lever' ||8, which is pivoted upon a stud|20 carried by the machine frame and provided with a portion |22arranged to be engaged by an adjustable screw |24 carried by a lever |26having 10 a follower portion adapted to be acted upon by a series ofcams |28, |30, and |34 carried by the main cam'drum |36 journalled onthe shaft 4| and arranged to be advanced at irregular intervals underthe control of the main chain 38 in 15 the usual' manner. At its righthand end as viewed in Figure 2, the main control lever ||8 is providedwith a lateral 'extension indicated at |38 adapted to cooperate with apin |40 `carried by the pattern chain for the purpose .here- 20 afterdescribed.

The second phase of the invention, which is concerned with the angularshifting of the crank pin which actuates the link 28, will be bestunderstood from a preliminary consideration of 25 `the type of drivingmechanism for the needle cylinders which is provided in the machinelllustrated in the abovementioned patent. This mechanism is illustratedin vdiagrammatic form in Figure 7. 'I'he cylinders are connected to a 30bevel gear indicated at |42, which is driven by a bevel gear |44 securedto a shaft |46 having suitable bearings in the frame. At the right handend of this shaft as viewed in Figure '7 are three pulleys, las, Isn and|52. The pulley las 1s a 35 loose pulley, |50 the sloW speed .pulley and|52 the fast speed pulley. Secured to the fast speed pulley |52 is apinion |54 which meshes With a pinion |56 secured to a counter-shaft |58having suitable bearings in the frame. The slow 4o speed pulley issecured through the medium of a sleeve surrounding the shaft 46 to apinion |60 which meshes with a substantially larger pinion |62 securedto the counter-shaft |58. Also secured to the countershaft is a gear |6445 which meshes with a gear |66 carrying the clutch element |68 androtating freely upon the shaft |46 being held in suitable manner fromendwise movement thereon. Arranged to cooperate with the clutch element|88 is a moving clutch ele- 5o ment |10 splined to the shaft |46 asindicated' at |12.

`A gear |14 xed to the counter-shaft |58 meslles with a gear |16 withwhich meshes the pinion |08 on the shaft |06 vpreviously described. 55

' The gear |16 carries a crank pin |18 to which is connected a link |80the other end of which embraces a crank pin carried by a quadrant |82which is pivoted to the frame and meshes with a pinion |84 journalledonthe shaft |46 and carry- 60 ing a clutch elementl |86 which is alsoadapted to be engaged by the clutch element |12. l The clutch element 10may be moved alternatively into engagement with either of the elements|68 and |86 under the control of a clutch shifting 65 device actuatedfrom the main cam drum of the machine. v Y Y The parts so far describedare old in this type of machine. During normal rotary knitting, thedriving belt engages the fast speed pulley |52 70 and the clutch |10 isin its right hand position as illustrated in Figure` '1. Under suchconditions, the drive of the rshaft |46, and hence the needle cylinders,is through pinions |54 and |56, pinions |64 and |66, and clutch elements|68 and 75 vpinion .I 08 'controlling the oscillation of the frame 26and the advance ofthe pattern chain '80. Au tomatic changes from -highto low speed are effected by means rof` a shipper arrangement undercontrol of the pattern devices of thev machine.

During rotation of the needle cylinders, the link |80 o scillates thequadrant |82 and hence produces oscillations of the pinion |80. Whenoscillation of the needle cylinder is to take place", the

tion of tips as controlled by the side/of .the

clutch member |10 is moved into. the left .hand position and the shaft45 then oscillates with the pinion |80. It will be noted that rotationof the pinion |08 nevertheless continues. In this type of machinereciprocation` always takes place with drive through the slow speedpulley.

As will be brought out more fully hereafter in connection with thedescription of the operation, the change from rotation to reciprocationnecessitates a shift of the crank pin drivingthe link 28 in order .toprovide proper yarn changes.

Referring now to Figures 4, 5- and 6, the shaft |06 has secured to itsrightvhand enda member |90 which is provided withan outwardly extendingearl |92 and axially extending pins ,|94 and .I 96. vRotatably'mountedon the end of the shaft there is a collar|08 which is provided with anextension 200 carrying the crank pin 202 .to which the link 28 isconnected. The extension 200 has afreedom of movement between thelimiting pins |94 and |96. 'Mounted on a pivot pin 206 in the sleevel|98 diametrically opposite the crank pin 202 there is a pawl 20B whichis adapted to engage opposite sides of the projection |02 as illustratedin Figures 5 and 6.l The pawl 204 is urged inwardly by means of a spring208 and is provided with a cam-engaging tail 2|0.

In Figure l, there are illustrated controlling devices for the pawly204. The controlling devices comprise a lbellcrank 2|4 pivoted at 2|6 tothe frame and provided with a forked end carryingcams 2|8 'and 220-adapted to selectively engage the tail 2|0 of the pawl. .A spring 222urges the bell crank in a clockwise direction to bringits upwardlyextending .arm into engagementfwith cams on a cam drum 224,whiclrrotates on the shaft .4| along with the cam drum |36.V The camsurfaces 226 to 240, inclusive, will be described hereafter. r f

The operation of the machine will be rst describedfwith reference torwhat occurs during rotary knitting, for example, of the leg and instepof a stocking. The main chain 390i the machine isA provided with somelinks adapted to act upon the followerlever 31 for control ofthe majoryarn changes such as those involved inthe formation of the heel and toeand for the produchereafter described. Additionally,

be provided with lugs of varying heights adapted to act on the follower31 to producestriping in addition to thc cyclical striping auxiliarychain 80.

- l,The .lugs just mentioned are carriedby. one

main chain 39, while theotlier side this;v chain may of thechain carrieslugs 'adapted to control lthe ensayos the present case the yarn changes,except those striping yarn changes controlled by the chain V60,

are produced by means of. the lugs on `the chain y v39. The chain 80 isadvanced one link for every course andfbyi reason of the differentheight lugs which control the position of the selector 24 striping iseffected in a fashionwhich will be obviousv from consideration of themechanism of Figure 1 and the disclosure of said Bentley patent.

. The advantage of the use of ay chain 80, which goes through a numberof cycles for each complete Vcycle of the main chain 39, .will beobvious. In general the chain 39 will be set up in such fashion as notto control any striping. This is the case because usually striping iseffected in cyclical fashion. chain 39 will contain only those lugswhich control advance of the pattern drums and which control the yarnchanges for the productionof heels and toes and for tipping or otherspecial events. It will be obvious, therefore, that when a chain 39 ismade rup it may be used for the productionv Under such conditions thevlinks on the lchain 39 would then be plain ones.

On the other. hand, if the chain 39 were used for the striping control,it would be necessary to use one hundred and five `striper. linkscarefully arranged with proper height ylugs and necessarily changed if achange inthe striping design was to be made. In the case ofthe presentmachine, on the `other hand, if the design waschanged so as .tohavetwelve stripes in a sequence, it would only be necessary to replacethe ten' link chain by a twelve link chain having a proper sequence oflinks.V The chain 39 would remain the same.

The mechanism which has been described effects the vshifting of the yarnchangingr `mechanism, i. e., the selector 24 and its associatedyelemerits,` from one chain to the other. During the time of formationof the leg, the follower y|26 will be located on the portion of thepattern drum preceding the cam |28, which corresponds'to the formationof the heel. Under lsuch conditions, the lever ||8 is in its clockwiseposition `as viewed in Figure 2 and the block 64 is in alignment withthescrew62 so that the movements imparted to the lever 56 'by the.various height lugs on .the pattern chain 80 will'effect the locationof the selector 24'in various positionsl to control tlie striping. j Atsuch time, plain links will be riding beneath the leverv 31 so that thesole control ofthe selecf tor 2 4 is bythe chain 80.v

` 'when there non ofthe heel is totana place,

the vcani |28,v actsmupon'the lever |26, depressing 'it as indicated inFigurez. This raises" 'the right hand end of lever I I 8 to the positionillustrated in Figure 2, in which, through the link I I4, itcausesratchet and the, 'chain 80, so that when knitting t of the instepis resumed the pattern will run continuously from the leg into theinstep at the front of the stocking. At the saine time, the rise of thelever I|8 cause the block 64 to be moved to the position indicated inFigure 4, in which it will not be engaged by the screw` 62. Accordingly,even though the follower 'I6 may be upon a lug on the chain 80 the lugwill not control the position of the selector 24 since the cam 40 willbe retracted from the pin 38. At this time, therefore, the selector 24may come under the control of one or more lugs onV the chain 39 to eiectsuitable yarn changes in the heel. At this time a timing change takesplace, but for simplicity of explanation the description of thepatterning will be continued without reference to this timing change,which is described hereafter.

After the completion of the formation of the heel, the cam |28 releasesthe follower |26, whereupon the guard I I0 clears the pawl 96,permitting it to advance the ratchet 86. At the same time, the block 64is freed to move into the path of the screw 62, so that pattern controlby the chain 80 is again resumed.

When the toe is reached, the cam '|30 causes a depression of the lever|26, but to a less extent than that effected by the` cam |28. Again,

vthe right hand end of the lever |I8 is raised, Abut this time its riseisnot suflicient to cause the pawl guard I I0 to remove the pawl 96 fromcooperation with the ratchet 86. The rise, however, is such as to bringthe inturned cam edge |38 of the lever |I8 into the path of the pin |40so that the lever II8 may be further raised by the pin |40 when that pincomes around to engagement with it, which engagement corresponds to theinitial position of the chain 60. 'rIhus timing up of the pattern chainis eiected, the pin |40 when it engages the cam |38 causing an addedrise ofthe lever I I8 which effects movement of the guard IIO intoposition to prevent cooperation of the pawl 96 with the ratchet. Beforethe pin |40 engages the cam |30, however, the lever II8 -will have risento such position as to move v the block 64 out of the path of the screw62. Ac-

cordingly, even though the lever 56 is caused to move by the lugs on thechain 80, the pattern control is not effected by the chain 60, butrather by the chain 38. Thus yarn changes may bel v made in the toe ofthe stocking under the control of'the latter chain.

lIn the beginning of the next stocking on a machine of the doublecylinder type herein described, there is rst formed a ribbed top whichis generally plain. A number of additional movements of the drum |36accordingly take place, but it is not necessary that theA toe cam shouldcontinue to control the lever |26 because the lever II8 will now be heldin its upper position by the pin |40, and consequently the chain 80willremain stationary until patterning is to be resumedl by it in theleg.

To cause a resumption of patterning inthe beginning of the leg knitting,there is provided an extra high cam |24, which engages the lever |26raising the end of the lever II8 to an extra high l position in which itcauses the pawl |I2 (Fig- 'ure `3) to advance the ratchet 86 about thedistance of half a link. This takes the pin from beneath the cam |88 so'that when the starter cam |34 frees the lever |26 the control lever II8is free to fall, permitting the pawl 96 to act upon the ratchet 86 toadvance the chain 80.

If during the knitting of the leg or instep it is desired to provide aninterruption in the cyclical control by the chain 60 to introduce, forexample,` special stripes, it is only necessary to cause' a cam oi' theheight of |28 to engage the lever |26, with the result that the controlof the patterning mayl revert to the chain 39, while the chain 80remains stationary to resume patterning as soon as the control cam onthe drum |36 releases the lever |26. Thus both cyclical and noncyclicalpattern changes may be interrelated to produce elaborate eiects.

It will be noted that the effect of the provision of the removable block64 is to permit the operation of the lugs on the chain 80 upon thereading lever 56 without controlling the position -of the selector 24.Thus during heel and toe knitting, or'at other times, the patterncontrol may be shifted to the main chain 39. Furthermore, timing of thechain 80 may take place without interfering with independent control ofthe selector 24.

The crankshifting devices illustrated in Figures l, 5 and 6 are providedto alter the yarn change timing in order to compensate for the change inneedle cylinder timing with respect to the driving means when it changesfrom the rotary driving gearing to the reciprocatory driving gearing. Ifit were possible to operate the yarn changer from the cylinder gear,then yarn changes would always be onr the same group of needles;however, since the cylinder gear sometimes rotates-and sometimesoscillates with the cylinders, this cannot be satisfactorilyaccomplished. In this type of machine, as hereto- `fore constructed,Athe crank driving the yarn changer has been set to produce the yarnchange .the timing which formerly existed between the yarn changingmechanism and the needle cylinder is so altered that the lap of yarnstakes place near the end of the short butt needles,

i. e., at the side of the stocking. It is often desirable to put acolored tip in the heel or the toe or both. In such cases, after abouthalf the gore needles have been picked out of action, the yarns arechanged. The new yarn then remains in action while the rest of thenarrowing-operation takes place and until the pocket. has been widenedto that width where the color was previously altered, whereupon theyarns are again changed. As the yarn change lap must necessarily takeplace on active needles, it must occur somewhere close to the center ofthe short butt group. However, because of the'shift in timing, it hasnot been possible in the past to embody in the one stocking bothstriping in the leg and instep and tipping in the heel and toe. If astocking having a plain leg but a tipped heel and toe was to be made,the yarn change crank was permanently set so that if yarn changes hadbeen made in the leg the lapsv would occur about 50 ahead of the center,i. e., at the side of the leg. This would not be particularlyobjectionable if only two or three yarn changes were made in the leg,but it would be quite unsatisfactory to make a considerably stripedstocking having the laps that far off center. By so advancing the crankthe laps occur in the center of the short butt series during heel andtoe knitting, and tipping is thus made possible, however, at the expenseof no striping.

In accordance with the present invention the crank which effects thestriping changes may be located in either of two positions, which areabout 50 apart. The leg yarn changes are made with the crank inthe backposition, i. e., in the position ilustrated in Figure 6. In such casethe projection 200 is engaged and driven by the pin |96 and the pawl 204lies to the rear of the lug |92. Just prior to the clutch changeltoreciprocatory knitting for the heel or toe, the crank is moved to theadvanced position'of 'Figure 5, where it remains until just before themachine comes out of the heel or toe, when it slips back to the positionof Figure 6. By such control the laps in the changes off the heel or toeoccur in the center of the short butt group of needles, and as a resultevery yarn change lap throughout the stocking is made on substantiallythe same group of needles representing the back of the stocking.

The shifts of the crank are accomplished by the controlling cams 2| 8and 220 in Figure l, with the cooperation of the strong spring 30, whichtends to move the bracket 26 upwardly. It will be noted that the ratchetdevices I8 offer no resistance to this upward movement of the bracket26, since this is the idle direction of movement of theV pawls 20.

In going on to the heel the cam 228 acts upon the bell crank 2|4 tocause the cam 2|8 to move downwardly. The cam 2|8 engages the tail ofthe pawl 204 as the crank 202 is moved beyond its lower dead centerposition. When the pawl 204v is released from the lug |92 and as thecrank 202 passes lower dead center, the spring 30 will advance the crankmore rapidly than the shaft |06. Accordingly, the cranky shifts from theposition of Figure 6 to the position of Figure 5, with respect to theshaft |06. As soon as the pawl`204 clears the cam 2|8, it snaps in frontof the lug 292, thereby preventing rearward movement of the crank.Immediately after this shift takes place, the cam drum 224 movespresenting a low cam 230 to the lever 2|4, moving both the cams 2|8 and220 to positions clear of tail 2|0 of the pawl 204. Thus the timing ofoperation of 'the bracket 26 is shifted forwardly to secure the properlaps in yarn changes in the heel, for example, for tipping as well asthe yarn change in going into the heel.

Just before the knitting comes out of the heel a low region 232 ispresented to the bell crank 2|4 and the cam 220 is then moved upwardlyto engage the tail 2|0 of the pawl 204. In this ca se engagement takesplace just as the crank pin 202 passes its upper dead center position,Il

and at v'this time the spring 30 is acting in opposition to movement ofthe crank. Accordingly,

the crank is retarded with respect to the shaft |06 and moves backwardlywith respect thereto to the position illustrated in Figure 6. Afterclearing the cam 220 the pawl engages behind the lug |92 locking thecrank in its new position.

and 238 in going into the toe and just before completing the toe the lowportion 240 and the cam 226 cause a shift of the crank back to itsretarded position. The cam 226, therefore,l holds the bell crank in itsneutral'position until the change to the heel is again to take place.

As a result of the crank shifts just described, the proper laps arecaused to take place at the rear of the stocking throughout its entireformation and thus striping throughout the leg and instep, and tippingin the lheel and toe may be effected in the same stocking.

What I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:` A

1. A knitting machine comprising va circular series of needles; meansfor selectively feeding ya plurality of yarns to said needles; and yarnchanging means including a selector which is normally inactive, saidselector being adapted to be variously positioned to determine yarnchanges, 'a cyclically movable pattern device, means for operating saidselector from said pattern device, and control means adapted to causethe patterndevice as it moves either to variously position the selectoror to allow it to remain in its normally inactive position.

2. A knitting machine comprising a circular series of needles; means forselectively feeding a 'plurality of yarns to said needles; and yarnchanging means including a selector arranged to be variously positionedto ldetermine yarn changes, a pattern device, a follower for the patterndevice, means providing an interruptible connection between saidfollower and said selector, and means for interrupting said connectiontoprevent control of the selectorby `the follower while the latter isactuated by the pattern device. V l

3. A knitting ma'chine comprising a circular series of needles; meansfor selectively feeding a plurality of yarns to said needles; and yarnchanging means including a selector arranged to be variously positionedto determine yarn changes, a pattern chain containing lugs of variousheights, a follower -for the pattern chain continuously under thecontrol thereof,` and means 'for determining whether or not saidfollower shall position said selector in accordance with the heights oflugs on the chain controlling the follower.

4. A knitting machine comprising a circular seriesof needles; means forselectively feeding a plurality of yarns to said needles; and yarnchanging means including a selector arranged to be variously positionedto determine yarn changes, a cyclically operating pattern device, a

follower for the pattern device continuousy under the control thereof,connections between said follower and selector whereby the formercontrols the latter, means yfor locating the pat, tern device in aninitial position after a period of control of yarn changes thereby,`andmeans for interrupting the connections between the follower and selectorafter such. period of control of yarn changesv and while the patterndevice is being located in initial position.

5. A- knitting machine comprising a circular series of needles; meansfor selectively feeding a plurality of yarns-to said needles; and yarnchanging means includinga selector arranged to be variously positionedto determine yarn changes, a cyclically operating pattern device,

`means for intermittently advancing said pattern device, a follower'forthe pattern device continuously under the control thereof, connections 6aiaopos' between'said follower and selector whereby the former controlsthe latter, means for interrupting the intermittent advance ofthe,pattern device, and means for interrupting the connections betweensaid follower and selector whenever said advance of the pattern deviceis interrupted.

6. A knitting machine comprising 'a circular series of needles; .meansfor selectively feeding a plurality of yarns to said needles; and yarn10 changing means including a selector arranged to be variouslypositioned to determine yarn changes, a primary cyclically operatingpattern device, a secondary cyclically operating pattern device normallyadapted to operate through a plurality of cycles for each cycle of theprimary pattern device, means for effecting independent control of saidselector by said pattern devices, and means for alternatively eitherstopping the advance of said secondary pattern device during control ofthe selector by the primary pattern device, or for providing forcontinued advance of said secondary pattern device during control of theselector by the primary pattern device. l

' 7. A knitting machine comprising a circular series of needles, meansfor selectively feeding a plurality of yarns to said needles; and yarnchanging means including a selector arranged to be variously positionedto determine yarn changes, a primary cyclicallyoperating pattern 3odevice, a secondary cyclically operating pattern device normally adaptedto operate through a plurality of cycles for each cycle of the primarypattern device, means for effecting independent control of said selectorby said pattern devices,

and means for stopping the advance of said secondary pattern deviceduring the control of the selector by the primary pattern device. 8. Aknitting machine comprising a circular series of needles; means forselectively feeding a o plurality of yarns to said needles; and yarnchanging means including a selector arranged to be variously positionedto determine yarn changes, a primary cyclicaliy operating patterndevice, a secondary cyclically operating pattern device normally adaptedto operate through a plurality of cycles for each cycle of the primarypattern device, means for effecting independent control of said selectorby said pattern devices, and means for providing for continued advanceof said secondary pattern device during control of the selector by theprimary pattern device.

9. A knitting machine comprising a circular series of needles; means forselectively feeding a plurality of yarns to said needles; yarn chang- 55ing means; means for producing relative rotal tion between the needlesand yarn feeding means; means for producing relative reciprocationbetween the needles and yarn feeding means; driving means for both thelast named 60 means, the arrangement being such that location ofpredetermined needles in yarn receiving relationship with the yarnfeeding means' occurs at different positions of the driving means`during rotation and reciprocation; and means 65 through which said yarnchanging means is actuated to effect yarn changes on substantially thesame group of needles during both rotation and reciprocation.

l0. A knitting machine comprising a circular 70 series of needles; meansfor selectively feeding a plurality of yarns to said needles; yarnchanging means; means for producing relative rotation between theneedles and yarn feeding means;

means for producing relative reciprocation be- 75 tween the needles andyarn feeding means; driving means for both the last named means, thearrangement being such that location 'of predetermined needles in yarnreceiving relationship with the yarn feeding means occurs at differentpositions of the driving means during rotation and reciprocation; andmeans through which said yarn changing means is actuated to effect yarnchanges on substantially the same group of nee,- dles during bothrotation and reciprocation; the last means including devices forchanging the 10 timing of the actuation of the yarn changing means withrespect to the driving means.

11. A knitting machine comprising a'circular series of needles; meansfor selectively feeding a plurality of yarns to said needles; yarnchang- 15 ing means; means for producing relative rotation between theneedles and yarn feeding means; means for producing, relativereciprocation between the needles and yarn feeding means; and a'singletrain of mechanism for timing the ac- 20 tuation yof the yarn changingmeans to effect yarn changes on substantially the same group of needlesduring both rotation and reciprocation.

12. A knitting machine comprising a circular series of needles; meansfor selectively feeding a 25 plurality of yarns to said needles; yarnchanging means; driving means; means for moving the needles with respectto the feeding means in such fashion that location of predeterminedneedlesin yarn receiving relationship with the yarn 30 feeding meansoccurs at different positions of the .driving means; and means foraltering the time of operation of the yarn changing means to eifect yarnchanges on substantially the same group of needles during said differenttimings of the nee- 35 dles with respect to the feeding means, said lasty named means comprising a shiftable crank driven by said driving means,and means for adjusting the angular position of the crank.

y 13. A knitting machine comprising a circular 40 series of needles;means for selectively feeding a plurality of yarns to said needles; yarnchanging means; driving means, means for moving the needles with respectto the feeding means in such fashion that location of predeterminedneedles in yarn receiving relationship with the yarn feeding meansoccurs at different positions of the driving means; and means foraltering the time of operation of the yarn changing means to effect yarnchanges on substantially the same group of needles during said differenttimings of the needles with respect to the feeding means, said lastnamed means including a shiftable crank driven by said driving means, amember driven by said crank, a spring acting upon said member whereby ateach revolution of the machine said spring tends during part of eachrevolution to advance said crank, and during another part of eachrevolution to retard said crank, a pawl for retaining the crank in'either an advanced or retarded po- 60 sition, and means for tripping thepawl selectively at either of two predetermined times so that the springmay locate the crank .in either its advanced or retarded position.

, 14. A knitting machine comprising a circular series of needles; meansfor selectively feeding a plurality of yarns to said needles; yarnchanging means; driving means; means for moving the needles with respectto the feeding means in' such fashion that location of predeterminedneedles in yarn receiving relationship with the yarn feeding meansoccurs at different positions of the driving means; and means foraltering the time of operation of the yarn changing means to effeet yarnchanges on substantially the same i plurality of yarns to said needles;yarn changing means; driving means; means for moving the needles withrespect to the feeding means in such fashion thatlocation ofpredetermined needles in yarn receiving relationship with lthe yarnfeeding means occurs at different positions of the driving means; andmeans for altering the time of operation of the yarn changing means toeffect yarn changes .on substantially the same group of needles duringsaid different timings of the needles with respect to the feeding means,said last named means including a shiftable crank driven by said drivingmeans, a member driven by said crank, a spring acting upon said memberwhereby at each revolution of the machine said spring tends during partof each revolution to retard said crank, and a pawl for retaining thecrank in its retarded position after it is moved to such position bysaid spring.

16. A knitting machine comprising a circular series of needles; meansfor selectively feeding a plurality of yarns to said needles; yarnchanging means; ing a shiftable crank, a spring acting upon said crankwhereby at each revolution of the vcrank said spring tends during partof each revolution to advance saidcrank, and during another part of eachrevolution to retard said crank, a pawl for retaining the crank ineither an advanced or retarded position, and means for tripping the pawlselectively at either of two prede-,.- termined times so that the mayVlocate.; the crank in either its advanced v onre't'arded tion.

series o." needles; means for selectivelyfeeding a plurality ef yarns tosaid needles; yarn changing means; and driving means therefor includinga shiftable crank, aspring acting upon said crank whereby at eachrevolution of the crank said spring tends during part of each revolutionto advance said crank, and during another part of each revolution toretard said crank, and means,

for controlling the action of said springvupon said crank.

18. A knitting machine comprising a circular series 'of needles; meansfor selectively feeding a plurality of yarns to said needles; and yarnchanging means including a cyclically operating pattern device having along cycle, a cyclically operating pattern device having a .shortcycle,v means through which each of said pattern devices may control the.eding means to effect selective feeding of tne same group of yarns toproduce a knit product having different striping sequences therein, andlmeans rendering the lshort cycle pattern device ineffective duringstriping control by the long cycle pattern device.

19. A knitting machine comprising a circular series of needles; meansfor selectively feeding a plurality of yarns to said needles; yarnchanging means including two patternY devices and a and driving meanstherefor includ-` 1'1. A knitting machiney comprising-'a circularlselector arranged to be variously positioned to determine yarn changesby the actlgn ofeither of said pattern means; means for cyclicallymoving at least one of said pattern devices through a. plurality ofcycles during the knitting of a stocking and means for timing saidpattern device so moving through a plurality of cycles to bring it to apredetermined initial position during the knitting of a. portion of astocking involving no patterning under its control.

2Q. A knitting machine comprising a circular series '0f needles; meansfor selectively feeding a plurality of yarns to said needles; yarnchangingvmeans including a pair of pattern chains and means throughwhich each of said pattern chains may control the feeding means toeffect selective feeding of the saure group of yarns to produce a knitrstocking having different striping sequences therein; means forcyclically moving at least one of said pattern chains through aplurality of cycles during the knitting of a stocking; and

means for timing said pattern chain so moving through a plurality ofcycles to bring it to a predetermined initial position during theknitting V of a portion of a stocking involving no patterning under itscontrol.

21, A knitting machine comprising a circular' series of needles; meansfor selectively feeding a plurality of yarns to said needles; yarnchanging means including a selector arranged to be variously positionedto determine yarn changes, a primary pattern means and a secondarypattern means, said two pattern means being arranged to effectindependently the same type of operations of said selector; means forcyclically moving said secondary pattern means through a plurality ofcycles during the knitting ofl a stocking; and means for timing saidsecondary pattern means to bring it to a predetermined initial positionduring the'knitting of a portion of a stocking involving no patterningunder its control.

22. A knitting machine comprising a circular series of needles; meansfor selectively feeding aplu'ralityof yarns to said needles; yarnchanging. means including a selector arranged to be variouslypositioned'to determine yarn changes,

a primary cyclically operating pattern device, a

v secondary cyclically operating pattern device norveach pattern device;and means for timing said secondary pattern device to bring it to apredetermined initial position during theknitting of a portion of thestocking involving no patterning under its control.

23. A knitting machine comprising a circular series of needles; meansforselectively feeding a plurality o f yarns to said needles ;l yarnchanging means including primary and secondary pattern chains and meansthrough which each of said pattern chains may control the feeding meanstov effect selective feeding of thel same group of yarns to produce aknit stocking having different striping sequences therein; means foreilecting advance of the primary pattern chain throughout the formationof a stocking independently of the secondary pattern chain; and

means through which the primary pattern chain controls movements of thesecondary pattern chain.

HAROLD E. HOUBEMAN.

